Waste grinder with timer controls to provide continuance of water flow to sewer after completion of grinding cycle



March 19, 1957 H JORDAN 2,785,863

WASTE GRINDER WITH TIMER lCONTROLS TO PROVIDE CONTINUANCE OF WATER FLOW TO SEWER AFTER COMPLETION 0F GRINDING CYCLE Filed July 18,A 1955 in: l

ilnited States Patent() WASTE GRDDER WITH TIMER CONTROLS TO PROVIDE CONTINUANCE OF WATER FLOW TO SEWER AFTER COMPLETION OF GRIND- ING CYCLE Hans Jordan, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor to Given Machinery Company, Los Angeles, Calif., a partnership Application Euly 18, 1955, Serial No. 522,467

6 Claims. (Cl. 241-38) This invention relates generally to waste disposal devices, and more particularly it relates to means for disposal of culinary wastes such as encountered in the home kitchen or in restaurants. The invention especially relates to control systems for the timing of electric motors and water-supplying valves employed in such garbage disposal structures. v

A particular object of the present invention is to provide for the automatic continuance of Water ow to ush out the discharge lines leading to the sewer after completion of the necessary grinding operation in waste disposal devices.

1t has been a frequent experience where a considerable quantity of garbage is regularly disposed of in grinding devices that the Waste disposal lines leading to the sewer plug frequently, for example as often as once a week. I have found that by introducing an automatic control so that water will continue to ow for a short time, such as two or three minutes, after the main control switch has been moved to its E position, the resultant flushing of the ground material through the discharge lines and out through the sewer has resulted in continued operation for long periods of time without any plugging whatsoever.

It is therefore a further object of this invention to incorporate in a control means for garbage disposal units for a delay means which functions automatically to continue the ow of ushing water for a predetermined time after the ordinary master control switch is operated to stop the electric motor of the grinding device.

Other objects of the invention, together with the various features of construction thereof, will become apparent to those skilled in this art upon reference to the following specification and the accompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. l is a diagrammatic representation indicating a typical garbage grinder with more or less conventional water supply means and electrical control means of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a similar view with a somewhat modified arrangement; and

Fig. 3 is a detail indicating the general nature of delay means which is employed to continue the ow of ushing water after the switch to the drive motor has been moved to its inoperative position.

in these figures a conventional garbage grinder unit 1t) is illustrated, this unit including a lower motor housing 12, an upper grinder housing 14 and an inlet of any appropriate type represented as a small hopper 15 which however might also represent a connecting neck attached to the under side of a conventional sink through which garbage to be ground and iiushing water are supplied. Water is supplied into the grinding chamber of the housing 14 as through a faucet or a spout 16 of a water line 17, as seen in both Figs. l and 2, and the ground waste and water pass to the sewer through a discharge pipe 18. As additionally shown in Fig. 1, water may be supplied directly to the discharge pipe 18 through a branch water line 19 leading from the line 17.

ln the form of Fig. 1, a solenoid-controlled valve 20 is ice placed in the water line 17 to control water ow from the spout 16, and another solenoid-controlled valve 22 is placed in the water line 19. In the form of Fig. 2, a solenoid-controlled valve 24 is placed in the water line 17 for control of the single water supply from the spout 16.

In both forms, main electric power supply lines 25 lead to a manual master control switch 26, placed in any convenient location such as on a kitchen sink panel. The switch 26 controls lines 28 to a motor in the housing 12 operating a grinder in the housing 14. In Fig. l, the switch 26 also controls branch power lines 28a leading from the lines 28, the branch lines 28a supplying the solenoid of the solenoid valve 20, so that, when the manual switch 26 is opened and the circuit to both the motor and the valve 20 is thereby broken, the valve 20 automatically closes and the motor stops. In Fig. 2, the opening of the manual switch 26 likewise stops the motor.

In each form, lines 30 lead from the main power lines 25 to supply the respective solenoid for the valve 22 or 24, and other lines 32 lead from the lines 28 for the motor to delay means for the valve, being thereby under the control of the manual switch 26. Each delay means includes a time delay relay 34 which controls a delay switch 35 set in one run of the solenoid valve control lines 30.

Thus, when the master switch 26 is closed, the relay 34 is energized to close the delay switch 35, as through a control element 36 to complete the circuit or" the lines 30 and in turn energize the control solenoid for the respective valve 22 or 24 to open such valve 22 or 24 for the supply of flushing water directly to the waste discharge pipe 18 in Fig. 1, or only to the grinder chamber 14 as in Fig. 2.

The delay switch and time delay relay combination is conventional, but is diagrammatically indicated in somewhat further detail in Fig. 3, where circuit opening and closing positions for the contacts of the switch 35 are indicated at 35a, as such positions are effected by the above mentioned control element 36, and delay or timecontrolled actuating means to move the stem or element 36 to circuit-breaking position after a time interval is generally represented at 38.

By these means, when the master switch 26 is manually ciosed, the motor in the motor housing 12 is energized through the lines 28, and the solenoid of the valve 2@ is energized to open the valve 20 in the form of Fig. 1. Closing the switch 26 also energizes the relay 34 to act to close the delay switch 35 which in turn closes the circuit 36 to energize the solenoid of the valve 22 and open the valve 22, which condition endures until the switch 26 is closed. Both valves 20 and 22 being now open, water ows from the spout 16 into the grinding chamber 14 which discharges into the pipe 18, and water also flows through the branch pipe 19 past the valve 22 into the waste pipe 18 to flush the discharge piping out to the sewer. Similarly, in the form of Fig. 2, closing the master switch 26 results in opening of the valve 24 when the motor starts and water is supplied only by way of the grinding chamber 14 from the spout 16 during grinding.

Thus, with both of the arrangements of Figs. l and 2, closing of the master switch 26 results in driving the motor and in opening the water valves. Opening of the switch 26 results in stopping the motor, and also in closing the valve 20. But the valve 22 or the valve 24 will remain open because the time-delay mechanism 38 in the relay 34 serves to maintain the delay switch closed until that time interval has elapsed for which the time-delay mechanism 3S has been previously set. During such time interval flushing water continues past the valve 22 or 2d to flush out the discharge pipe 1S and associated plumbing, even though the motor has ceased driving the grinding mechanism.

avaaeea trolling an electric power line to said motor-,and an elec- Y tric power line to said` valve; and timefdelay switch means in the line to said valve enrgzable by closing said master switch means to open saidV valve and de-energizabieafter a predetermined time lapse, following openingl of said master switch means, to close said valve.

`2. In a timing system for a waste disposal device employing flushing water and electricy power for driving a motor: a flushing water conduit having an automatically activated waie. Qontrol valve; master switch means controlling an electric power line to said motor and an electricY power line to said valve; a delayswitch means inthe line to said valve; a time-delay relay connected with said delay switch means to hold the latter closed for a predetermined time and to Vhold said valve open for such predetermined time; and a power line controlledv bysaid master switch means and leading to said relay,v said relay beingv energizahle by said'master switch. means to close said, delay switch and open said' valve,r4 and de-energizable byr opening said master switch means to open said delay switch andV close said valve after a time predetermined by the time delay of said relay.

3. In a Jgil-ning system for a waste disposal device employing fiushing water and electric power for driving a motor: a ushing water conduit having an automatically activated water control valve;` control switch means; a power line leading froml said control switch means to said motor; a power line leading from saidV 'control switch means tosaid valve; a delay switch in said line to said valve; a relay connected with said delay switch and having time-delay means; and a power line leading from said control switch means to said relay, said relay energizing said delay switch to close the latter and open said vatve on closing said control switch means and cie-energizing.

said delay switch at a time after opening said control switch means which time is; predetermined by said time-V delay means.

4. In a waste disposal system: a grinder device having a waste and water receiving chamber, grinding means therein, and a motor for operating said grinding means; means for discharging waste from said chamber; a water conduit for supplying waste-flushing water; a Water-controlling valve said valve; electric power suppl-y lines suppl-ying said motor; a master switch in said lines for control-ling electric supply to said motor; branch electric lines, from Vsaid power lines to said valve-actuating meansra delay switch in said branch lines; a relay connected with said delayY switch to open and close4 said delay switch; and branch electric lines also controlled by said master switch and leading to said relay, Said relay having settable time-delay meansr to maintain said delayy switch closed for aprecietermined time after opening of said master switch and to open saidl delay switch for closing of said valve following elapse of; such time.

5.. A systemV as in claim 4 wherein said water conduit discharges into said chamber and said valve. is in said Vconduit to control. waterrliow to said. chamber and thence to said waste-discharge means.

6. A system as inr claim. 4 whereinl said water conduit leads directly to said waste-discharge means, said valve is located insaid conduit to control water passage to said waste discharge means, another water conduit discharges into said chamber, a second valve being disposed in such other. conduit toY control water ow to said chamber, and additional branch. electric lines also. controlled oy said master switch. lead to actuating means for said second valve to open the latterwhen said master switch is clos-sr. and close. such secondV valve when the master switch is open.

No references cited.

said conduit; electric means to actu-ate 

